1,000 Expected for Day of Caring - Thursday, August 23, 2007

FORT WAYNE (Aug. 22, 2007) – Nearly 1,000 people representing 50 corporate and organizational teams will complete 55 community service projects Aug. 29 during the 15th annual United Way Day of Caring.

The day will start with a breakfast for participants and awards presentation for companies at 7:30 a.m. at Headwaters Park. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., is also expected to speak at the event, which is sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group.

New to Day of Caring this year is a one-day Fill the Truck Food Drive for Associated Churches organized by United Way of Allen County’s Women’s Initiative. Members of the initiative are women philanthropists who’ve formed to identify issues affecting women and develop solutions.

The food drive is in response to reports that local food pantries are having a difficult time keeping shelves stocked.

People can deposit canned food items in barrels at Headwaters from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 29; a truck at Wal-Mart Apple Glen from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a van at Wal-Mart Coldwater from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day of Caring teams will also spread out across the county to rake, paint, landscape, weed, wash windows, build fences and repair roofs. The work benefits people who are either financially or physically unable to perform the tasks.

Day of Caring marks the official start of United Way’s annual fundraising campaign, which runs through March.

“We are grateful to all those who have signed on to help build a stronger community,” said United Way of Allen County President and CEO Jerry Peterson. “The needs in our community continue to grow and it is through the selfless efforts of others that we will ensure a bright future.”

Media Sites

Following are some projects you may want to consider covering:

• The Harold McMillen Center for Health Education, 600 Jim Kelley Blvd. – 50 Lutheran Hospital employees will paint the building’s exterior, a hall, and public restrooms.
• Little River Wetlands Project/Eagle Marsh, Engle Road – 36 Regal Beloit employees will pick up trash around the wetlands.
• American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana, 1212 California Road – 20 employees of 1st Source Bank and Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce will clean mannequins and wash vehicles.
• 1928 Antoinette St. – 30 city employees will paint a house, repair windows and stain a wheelchair ramp at a property cited by Neighborhood Code. The residence’s husband recently had a kidney transplant and the wife has a terminal illness.
• Hope House, 1115 Garden St. – 10 employees of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne will repair a front porch and paint.
• 2419 Miner St. – 15 Brotherhood Mutual employees will paint and landscape at a private residence cited by Neighborhood Code.
• Rescue Ministries, 301 W. Superior St. – 10 Fort Wayne Metals employees will clean, scrape and paint rooms.
• 7424 Beaty St. – Four Northrop High School students will wash windows for a woman referred by the League for the Blind & Disabled.
• 4427 Lillie St. – Val Vorndran and nine other members of her family will clean up the yard of a man in memory of her brother, Vincent, who died recently.

(Also, 30 employees of Rea Magnet Wire will clear property, fix roofs, paint and install siding in the Harvester neighborhood; 25 members of UAW 2209 will remove shrubs, install security lights and paint at Hodell Acres, and 75 Lincoln Financial Group employees will clean the grounds and paint at McMillen Girl Scout Camp.)

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Contact:
Rick Farrant, Director of Marketing & Communications, 422-4776 or rickf@uwacin.org